Oct 11, 2014 10:19 AM EDT
Ebola Virus In Brazil: The First Possible Patient Of The Deadly Virus Reaches South America

It seems there's a first patient of the Ebola virus in Brazil, though as of yet this is not confirmed: the results of the man's tests will not be known until Saturday, according to reports from the Brazilian government. The man, originally from the African country of Guinea, could be the first case of the Ebola virus in Brazil, and altogether in the South American continent.

The man who may have brought the Ebola virus to Brazil is a 47 year-old Guinea national who lives in the southern Brazilian town of Cascavel. According to The Wall Street Journal, the middle-aged man, whose name has not been made public by Brazil's Health Ministry, became ill last Wednesday. The man who may have brought the Ebola virus to Brazil didn't presents the symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting or bleeding - just a slight fever at the moment.

However, as the man traveled from Guinea to Brazil just a month ago, he poses a health risk: Guinea is among the countries that have been hit the hardest by the often-deadly disease. Local media has described the Guinea national as a missionary, according to the United Kingdom's Daily Mail journal. He was taken by authorities from Cascavel to the National Infectious Disease Institute in Rio de Janeiro last Friday morning, and tests were performed to find out if indeed he had the disease; the results won't be official until Saturday.

Authorities of the Brazilian Health Ministry have said that 64 people that were in contact with the patient are being monitored, but out of those only 3 were in direct contact. As such, the Brazilian Health Minister, Arthur Chioro, has said the country is at a low risk of suffering from the epidemic.

The man who may have brought the Ebola virus to Brazil is under strict medical surveillance, after having landed in the South American country from the African country on September 19.

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